Torpedo guard for ships



Nov. 17, 1942. R, T JON S 2,302,225

TORPEDO GUARD FOR SHIPS Filed Dec. 4, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. NEE

Nov. 1-7, 1942.

R. T. JONES TORPEDO GUARD FOR SHIPS Filed Dec. 4, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

BY RT JUNEE ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 17, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,302,225 TORPEDO GUARD-FOR srnrs R. T. Jones, Perry, Iowa Application December 4, 1939, Serial No. 307,466 2 Claims. (01. 114-240) The principal object of my invention is to provide a torpedo guard for ships that will effectively detonate a torpedo or like at a'substantial distance from the ship thereby preventing damage to the ship 'or like.

A further object of this invention is to provide a torpedo guard for ships which is self-sustaining in the water and one that is self-propelling, there- 'by eliminating additional load on the ship or on its motive power.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a torpedo guard or net for ships which is arranged in sections that are easily replaced.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a torpedo guard for ships or the like which permits the wash from the prow of the ship to pass through the screening elements, thereby permitting the ship to travel at its full speed without occasioning undesirable back wash or drag.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a torpedo guard for ships which has quickly releasable elements or screens and which may be easily dismantled and placed in brackets alongside the ship when the ship is entering a port, canal or similar place of safety,

A still further object of this invention is to provide a torpedo guard for ships having segmented self-buoyant torpedo screen wherein the successive sections of the screen may overlap each other or pass each other when portions of the net are raised by rough water or the like, thereby preventing the device from jamming.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a torepedo guard for ships or the like that is durable and efiicient in use.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top elevational View of a portion of a ship showing my torpedo guard in place.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side sectional view of the ship showing the placement of the bracket and beam arm.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of one 'of the beams used in supporting my torpedo guard.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the detaching mechanism for releasing selected segments of the torpedo guard.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the beams showing a remote control mechanism for operating the catches shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side plan view of two types of torpedo guards 0r nets used in my device.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged top sectional view of one of the baffle guards and is taken on the line 1-4 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged side view of a portion of one of the float members for sustaining the torpedo net showing its engaging members.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged top plan view of one of the beam supporting brackets.

Fig, 10 is an enlarged front elevational View of one of the guard supporting floats and one of the beams of the guard construction.

It is well known that, in time of war, the greatesthazard to shipping and to boats is the torpedo. This weapon is launched from submarines o'rother vessels carrying torpedo tubes and is propelled through the water by a compressed air motor. Due to the extreme size of these torp'edos and the size of the detonating charge therein, one torpedo is sufi'icient to sink a ship; To guard against torpedoes, the only method heretofore brought forth for the protection of unarmed vessels is a chain net suspended from the ship by davits or booms and on battle ships or the like by the use of what is known as a torpedo bulge. Both of these are unsatisfactory, due principally to the fact that they add to the weight of the ship, thereby decreasing the usage, tonnage, and slowing the speed of the ship. Also in the case of a heavy detonator on the nose of the torpedo, the nets have been so flexible as to sometimes permit the torpedo to buckle the net and hit the side of the ship before exploding. These nets also made the ship very cumbersome to handle and were extremely unwieldy in their operation. I have overcome such disadvantages as will be appreciated and as will be hereinafter more fullyset forth.

Referring to the drawings, I have used the numeral III to designate th deck of the ship, having the side wall H to which my device will be attached as hereinafter set forth. The numeral I2 designates a horizontal post or like having one e'nd'secured to the wall ll of a ship and extending from the side of the ship for a substantial distance. The numeral I 3 designates a cylindrical sleeve having its major portion extending upwardlyandrigidly secured to the element l2. R'otatably mounted in the sleeve 13 is a hanger member [4 which may be secured within the sleeve in a suitable manner so that it will rotate and which has on its upper end an eye portion IS. The numeral l6 indicates an elongated beam composed of two opposing channel members I! and I 8 with their backs secured together by welding or the like in a manner shown in Fig, 3. The numeral l9 indicates a fork formed on one end of each of the beams I6 which through the medium of a bolt or like 20 is pivoted to the eye l5. A plurality of beams I6 are used in my device and are anchored at spaced intervals through the mediums of the brackets l2 and l3 and the hanger l4 along each side of the ship It) as shown in Fig. 1. These beams are suitably braced between each successive section by the cross cables 2| and the forward beam and rearward beam are braced to the ship through the medium of the cables 22. Obviously the forward beam I 6 and the rearward beam I 6 need be composed of but one channel member. It will be here noted that I have secured to the sleeve I3 a stop lug 23 for preventing these beams from swinging downwardly too far during the roll of the ship. Obviously any type of stopping means would be suitable. On the outer end portion of each of the beams 16 and in each of the channel members I! and I8, I have provided a catch mechanism 24 which extends up into each of the channels I! and I8 and is pivoted to the beam by means of an arm 25 welded to the beam. The numeral 26 indicates a lug formed on the stop member or catch mechanism 24 to which is secured one end of a cable rod or like 21. This cable or like 21 extends along the under side of each of the beams l6 and terminates in a ring 28 adjacent the inner end of each of the beams I6. I have used the numeral 21' to indicate eyelets secured to the beam and through which the cables or rods 21 pass for preventing the ring from sliding out of reach. The numeral 29 designates hooks on the inner end of the beams l6 for holding the ring 28 and cable 21 together with the catch or looking member 24 in position. Obviously these cables 21 may be operated by a lever'or two of the channel members facing each other on differential beams, may be actuated by the same cable or lever. I have used the numeral 30 to designate float elements having secured to each of their ends the engaging elements 3| and 32, these engaging elements are in the form of a shaft having an enlarged head portion on its outer end and capable of being loosely received within the channel members I! and i8 respectively, Thus the channel member I! of one of the beams l6 would engage the engaging member 3! and the channel member I3 of the next succeeding beam It would engage the engaging member 32 with the enlarged head portions resting within the channels and the shaft projecting through the slot. These engaging members are so designed as to rest loosely within these channel arms so that the float 3!) may change positions or rotate within certain limits. The numeral 33 designates a frame member secured to and extending downwardly from the floats 39. Within this frame member, I place the guard nets which are of two distinct types. One type maybe that shown in Fig. 6 and designated by the numeral 34,

which is a series of interlaced metallic strips of such a weight as to eifectively detonate any torpedo contacting this net. To prevent the wash from the bow of the ship from being baffled, the

first few sections of guardsshould be composed as shown in Fig. 7 to permit the wash to pass through the guard without battling it while at the same time, be providing an effective guard for detonating a torpedo should it hit the net. It will here be noted that the forward and rearward edges of the frame members 33 are tapered. This is for the purpose of permitting the lower adjacent corners of two successive guards to pass each other when an acute angle is formed by the floats in passing over rough water or the like.

The numeral 36 indicates a power float having therein a motor or like 21 and a propeller 38. This motor 31 may be electrically driven and is connected to the ship through the medium of the cable 39. Similarly I have provided a rearward power float 49 having the propeller 4| and having its electric motor in electrical communication with the generators of the ship through the medium of the cable 42.

The practical operation of my device is as follows:

The floats are placed in series within the beam l6 and as such, rest in the outer or lower ends of these beams 16. The engaging members 3| and 32 are engaged by the channel members i! and I8 respectively of two adjacent beams and are prevented frcm detaching themselves from the beams or channels by the catch mechanism 24. The device is then ready for use. As the ship travels through the water, the motors within the power floats 36 and 40 are in operation and the propellers 38 and 4| provide sufficient power to more than compensate for the weight of the complete mechanism. Inasmuch as the beams are pivotally mounted to the hanger M by floats and remain in flotation regardless of the roll of the ship and the buoyancy on these floats 30 is such as to carry the weight of the guards should a torpedo strike the side of the guards 34, the torpedo will be detonated and inasmuch as the beams 16 hold these guards at a substantial distance from the ships side, no damage will be done to the ship.

Should a guard or several of them be blown up by the concussion of the torpedo, replacement guards may be carried and the engaging members on the end of the floats 33 may be disengaged by merely releasing the cables 21, permitting the catch member 24 to drop to the position 50' shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5, thereby releasing the damaged floats and guards. Spare floats and guards may be carried on shipboard and may be induced into the upper ends of the channels I! and I8 where they are slid to the bottom portion and inasmuch as the catch mechanism would be placed in its desired position. After the release of the damaged guard, the replacement guard and float would slide to the lower outer end portion of the channels until it is engaged by the catch mechanism 24.

Upon entering a port, canal or the like, it may be desirable to dismantle the guard elements, placing the floats and guards on shipboard and placing the beams in the brackets formed by the members I2 and the sleeve l3 in the manner shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawing, thus permitting the ship to enter the harbor or restricted inlets and to permit it to properly dock. It will here be noted that the bracket members may be of such a length that all of the beams IE will be of identical length, while the brackets or the member I 2 may be extended, tapering upon the curvature of the side of the ship so as to form a straight line. It is also obvious that by of upright metallic strips 35 extending at an angle an increase of power on one side of the ship and to the motors within the floats 36 and 40, that the ship may be more easily turned on a smaller radius.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a torpedo guard for ships which fulfills all of my objects and which presents many more obvious advantages. My device will increase the maneuverability of a ship rather than retard it, provides successive protection against the detonation of a torpedo, provides quick releasable sections easily stored and free floating, and furthermore provides a torpedo guard of interest, adaptability, and versatility. My guard may be placed on any size of ship and may be fabricated to certain sizes and inasmuch as the guard is self-propelling and self-buoyant, it does not add a burden to the ship to which it is attached. Obviously my guard will be of great utility in the protection of the ship against any type of submarine explosive, such as directive mines, aerial torpedoes, magnetic mines, and floating mines.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my improved torpedo guard for ships without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described a plurality of generally L-shaped brackets so secured, at spaced intervals, to the side of a ship that one leg of each bracket is substantially vertical and is spaced from the side of the ship, a generally vertical elongated bearing hole in the vertical leg of each said L-shaped bracket, a hanger member rotatably received in each said bearing hole, a beam comprising two generally C-shaped channel members secured together back to back pivotally mounted adjacent one of its ends on each said hanger, a float provided at each end with a shaft having an enlarged head each said shaft being adapted to be received in the slot of one of said C-channels and each head being adapted to be received within a said O-channel proper whereby said float is adapted to be mounted in facing channels of adjacent beams by having its end shafts and their heads introduced into said facing C-channels and their slots respectively at the ship ends of said channels, means for selectively closing the free ends of said 0- channels, guard structure suspended from said floats comprising framework partially closed by substantially upright metallic strips transversely inclined to the general vertical plane of the guard adjacent the bow of the ship and comprising framework partially closed by interlaced members to the rearward of said upright strips and tapered outer edges on the vertical members of said frames, the construction and arrangement of parts being such that said beams, when in inoperative positions, are adapted to have their free ends rest in L-brackets adjacent the L- brackets on which they are each respectively mounted.

2. In a device of the class described a plurality of spaced apart generally L-shaped brackets having horizontal legs secured to the side of a ship and projecting outward therefrom and having vertical legs projecting upward, an elongated generally vertical bearing hole in the vertical leg of each said L-bracket, a hanger member rotatably mounted in each said bearing hole and a beam pivotally mounted adjacent one of its ends on each said hanger, the relationship of the lengths of said beams to the spaces between said L-brackets being such that each beam when rotated into inoperative position adjacent the side of the ship is adapted to have its free end-portion rest in an L-bracket adjacent the L-bracket mounting the particular beam.

R. T. JONES. 

